METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTRODUCING ELONGATED OBJECTS DEFINING A LONGITUDINAL AXIS INTO A CONTINUOUS FLOW OF MATERIAL

摘要

The invention relates to a method for introducing elongated objects defining a longitudinal axis into a continuous flow of material, the method comprising the steps of: —providing a reservoir for holding the elongated objects to be introduced into the continuous flow of material; —introducing the elongated objects from the reservoir into a transfer chamber that is arranged such that the objects are aligned therein with their longitudinal axis parallel to each other; —moving the elongated objects along a direction parallel to their longitudinal axis in a single line path from the transfer chamber to a delivery channel by a rotatable wheel, the rotatable wheel arranged adjacent the transfer chamber and adapted to move the elongated objects located in the transfer chamber by contacting the elongated objects with a peripheral surface of the rotatable wheel; —inserting the elongated objects from the delivery channel to a location where the elongated objects are to be introduced into the continuous flow of material; and —regulating an insertion speed of insertion of the elongated object from the delivery channel to a location where the elongated objects are to be introduced into the continuous flow of material on the basis of a speed of the continuous flow of material at the location in which the elongated object is to be introduced.